Poser wrote:I've never actually done a park run, though - does anyone who's done them have any tips for a first-timer?

If you want a time then print off your barcode and remember to take it with you.

There not really anything else to remember. Just turn up in time, there will be a new runner briefing about 20mins before the start, where they go over the route and how token timing works. Then listen to the run director give a quick briefing and at 9am you run.

An hour or two after you finish the results should be posted on their website.

With your 5k pace you will be close to the front so if it's a busy run or a narrow course don't start too far back.

Poser wrote:I've never actually done a park run, though - does anyone who's done them have any tips for a first-timer?

If you want a time then print off your barcode and remember to take it with you.

There not really anything else to remember. Just turn up in time, there will be a new runner briefing about 20mins before the start, where they go over the route and how token timing works. Then listen to the run director give a quick briefing and at 9am you run.

An hour or two after you finish the results should be posted on their website.

With your 5k pace you will be close to the front so if it's a busy run or a narrow course don't start too far back.

Perfect, thanks for that. I've got my barcode now: I'm tempted by one of those rubberised wristbands you can get as I don't fancy running with a bit of paper, even laminated, that I would probably drop or lose.

Starting to run again has really helped ease my depression, so I really can't afford to stop. The Parkruns seem ideal.

I hadn't run a Parkrun since July, and missed dinner last night so wasn't planning on going today either, but I was up early and felt ok so dragged myself along.

The optimistic plan was to run 7:00 miles and then a sprint at the end might get me a PB, but I knew that pace was unlikely today. The course is 2 laps and the first 0.5 mile is a gentle uphill section. It should be the slowest part of the course but I always set of too fast, and slow down after climbing the hill. I did it again this time, I was in 3rd position and my watch said 6:10 pace, so I eased off a bit and did the first mile in 6:45.

After that I still felt comfortable but I just didn't have the strength and my pace slowed to 7:08 for the second mile. The final mile included the hill again and I continued to slow. My legs felt fine, breathing was ok, I just couldn't go any faster. Finished in 6th with 21:50, just 11 seconds slower than my PB.

I was really pleased with that and felt great after finishing and scoffing down a bacon roll. Next time I just need to start slow up that first hill. Maybe I'll try and go for negative splits.

Bury 10k this morning, great race but tough, course outline is a valley shape and I went a bit too fast on the downhill at the start. Slowed down in the middle but kept the 40-minute pacer in sight, dug in on the uphill return and got past the pacer on the final straight as he was waving me home Came in at 39:54.

I've lost some pace, managing 22:17 at Parkrun yesterday. I'm supposed to be doing a half marathon in four weeks and I've set a target of 100 minutes. I've left it far too late and have got pretty much no chance.

Good luck mate! I've been foam-rolling the gooseberry fool out of my legs recently, especially my hip flexors, and my 20km training run this week was 5 mins faster than last week (2:05 down to 2:00 now). It's getting a little easier each week, and I do a 5km interval session during the week which includes a very steep hill sprint at the end which kills me. 3 weeks until my Manchester half, now.

Paced that horrendously. First 3 miles are completely uphill and I'm used to the hills here so went off too fast. Far too fast miles 1-6, not taking into account how much incline there was. Miles 7-12 horrendous. Not enough water stops either - thought I was genuinely going to pass out as I started shivering with cold at mile 8. What a crappy run. Time was 2:02. Think I've hurt my knee too. Shite run lads. Shite.